Valve for maintaining constant liquid height in tanks



Dec. 30, 1930. c. F. PEITZMAN ,4 9

Qv a0 L i I I 5 I I I [IV E I5 1 I3 I! I h I I3H1 I I'IIIII'IIIIIIIIIIIIII I gwomtoz Patented Dec. 35, 1930 CLARENCE F. PEITZMAN, F DALLAS COUNTY, IOWA VALVE FOR MAINTAINING CONSTANT LIQUID HEIGHT IN TANKS Application filed April 29,

The principal object of this invention is to provide an actuated valve for fluid tank inletpipes capable of maintaining a predetermined water level in the tank in which it operates.

A further object of my invention is to provide a float actuated valve for fluid tank inlet pipes that automatically acts as a check valve to the liquid in the tank when, for any reason,

- a fluid pressure is released in the tank inlet 1Q supply pipe and the water level in the tank hasreceded to an elevation where the float is incapable of closing the valve.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a valve for maintaining a constant 5 water height in a tank that is positive in its operation and one that is self cleaning.

A still further object of this invention. is to provide a float actuated valve for fluid tank inlet pipes that is easily installed, assembled or disassembled.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a valve for maintaining a' constant water height in a tank that is economical in manufacture, durable in use, and refined in appearance. i

These and other objects will be apparent to thosefskilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully'set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the 'acco'mpanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of a tank containing a'fluid with my complete invention installed therein and in use.

Fig. 2 is aside view of the main port-ion of my valve showing its condition when in a closedposition not actuated by the float mechanism of the invention.

Fig.8 is aside view of themain portion of my valve in an open position for allowing additional water or fluid to enter the tank.

Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of my invention taken on line 4-4: of Fig. 2 and at a right angle to the view shown in Fig. 2 and more 'fully illustrates its interior construction. Y

One ofthe chief objections to the float actuheight.

1929. Serial No. 358,958.

ated valves now on the market is their inability to automatically act as a check valve to the water or like fluid in the tank when the float is in a lowered position and when the pressure in the inlet pipe to which the valve is secured is accidentally lost, thereby allowing the water in the tank to run back out of the tank through the inlet pipe. Also, they are sometimes not capable of standing high pressures and because some of their elements are made of deteriorable material, such as rubber and the like, their successful functioning is of short life. I have overcome these objections as will be appreciated by those familiar with float actuated valves.

I have used the numeral 10 to designate the tank in which the liquid is to be maintained approximately at predetermined The numeral 11 designates an inlet supply pipe passing into the tank at a low point, having its discharge end terminating in the lower portion of the tank, and its other end designed to be in communication with a source of water supply under pressure. Threaded on to the end of the pipe in the tank is a fixed portion of my valve comprising anut or base portion 12 and a vertical cylinder 13, and integrally formed on the portion 12 and spaced apart from the cylinder is an arm 14- as shown in the drawings; this arm is strengthened by ribs 15 and extends to a height greater than the height of the cylinder 13.

Slidably mounted on the cylinder and having its top 16 capped is a sleeve 17. The numeral 18 designates a disc of any suitable resilient material, but preferably of leather, located in the upper end of the sleeve and adjacent to the top portion 16, and capable of engaging the upper marginal edge of'the cylinder 13 when the sleeve is in a lowered position on the cylinder. In the side of the sleeve and at points some distance below the leather disc is a plurality of outlet ports 19. The numeral 20 designates a bar pivoted near one end of the top portion of the arm 14 and having its short end capable of engaging the cap portion of the sleeve 17 as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3. Secured by a chain 21,

V rallyiraisegthelslee e 17toian ,eleva te dpcsi as he'l' ate evelf iips e e e; sir d; height, the floakwill again raise ithebar 20 18 tightly over the opencndiot theocylinder 13 and preventing any additional fluid to enter the tank through the pipe 11. Asthe Water 23, or fluid, is used outofthe tank, the I float 22 will drop accordingly, allowingthe eiqk fj b e aa male lQY -9l 1- dl alibe ha i nd-Qtt e aa w m upwarc'llyv away from. the, sle,eve. 1T,

her? heZ ai'JZQ-I Q i bldl ha le l e. n a o e ed i h iased men a he terr fluid ,pressure i'n .7 the; cylinder 13 will natution irt engagement, eat the, bar ,20 EiSZShOWiI in Fig, 3,,but it e111 vJoeliio'ald' that this hei ht, ngs-e jsucli thatithe'liqiiid from 111 pipe 11 E fiYQPQSSQQLIPIQ i hieplo fi l yli dfil i into Qthei sle l7, and from, that", sleeve,

throu gliitheports liliiito Assoon and seal .the valve, portion so that no further liquid may, enter, thefltank. To. .p;revent any binding. in the. operation of the device when the bar,'2( actuates the sleeve l'i', the cap portion 16 is rounded on Iitsouter upper surface andithe cap eng aging portion of the-bar 20 is also, rounded as shown in the drawings,

It, for any reasomthe bar 20 is out of engagementwith thesleeve, 17 as shown 1n Fig,

2 andfth'e liquid pressure in. the, pipe; 1l' oeases to exist, the isleeve l'f will automatically move to, a lowered position by theprea,

surejof :the water infthe gtank, on, the same, its own weight, and sub-pressure the pipe .11, thereby hermetically sealing the open end of the cylinder 13, and preyenting the water 23 in thefltankfrom draining back out ofthe tank through thepipe 11. 'This automatic valye check of the water in; the; .ank s very important, as cases often ar se wheresucli a function is very necessary,

The height of the maintained water level i in thge taiik lo-niay be controlled by adjusting the length of the chain 21 between the float 22 and the end of the. bar 20.

By the liquid passingdireetly from the. cylinder-13 through thelarge ports. 19,. the

lif for any-reason, itis desired zto disassemble my float actuated valve, it is -,merely,neCes-.

devicewill .be capable ofeself cleaning.

sary to .detachthe bar 20., fromcthe arm l slide rthe; sleeve 17- upwa rdly and; ofi' of ;the eylindersliia Therdise =18,- ot-Jeather on the; likesis far .enongh aboyethe -;openings,;19;;;to be protested-horn-;any,har1n duringthe actn-s without departing from the real spirit and ating of the valve. Such a disc is very durable and, in fact, is the only element of the invention that might wear out after a very long period of use. However, it is of minor importance, and may be easily replaced with 7 a new one.

The cylinder 13 and sleeve 19 at least dbe 1 a er us iet ri l a hi as brass, bronze, copper, or the like, to insure continuous smooth reciprocation ot' the sleeve ontheicylinder. 7 i

I Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement ot m'y -improved valve for maintaining constant height in a tank,

8O purpose o t my. invention and it lsinyunten e v ri my la msy medifiedlforma of structure}.or use of mechanical equivalents.

h li y e ase ab y nc uded W t in their snip I claim: 1. Ina .device of the class described, a ,base m mbs es gne ;to, e hrea ed 1 i hes e of a pipe, acylinderhaving oneend integrally meel e; id ese em e a d avin a n ommunie ti ni th: aid Pipe-f sleeve slidably mounted oI tlnfree, end of, d i ylia eaaed having nsi i lesedi aidi ed L nd apable-s t enga ement th he ndk fi aidifly inder he i s eer s; as moved in oneidire'etion, a resil ientv. ,menuber between closed end and -said cylinder,- et perta th d fi idt l e aae iead. i a-ieei t :s -ieh ly el0W- aid;re ent mem er, and a float actuated barcapsable ot nee ine eids esed 9 d t e eeve-2..

lna i e i her-fl as es ri ed; a ass: mb desiea si fie e hread d 011 a amps a, i er memb r harms Il9e il nt rally, formed on said base member and'h'avinga} o s esi ns-s a es ns mlmleicat oa. with? said pipe, asleeve slidably, moilnted on theg free and @t ai y1- :a d havin lkq iii edisaid i l l llea able 9 p qsin l ha eenqt aid i yl nel nwh a aid leeve. moved ,1n ,one direction, a p lnralityrof;ports x nrli iethte ehth r ao sai slee and an int a e tl'ye el i' ai losed z rlif aarm integrally' forhied on said base portion; n steadie yend aid-,ey indea at-.1 c at ilber s riv te 0 s d armitha whe 0 one end of said bar isj raised, opposite endl. eenee eamizdepr ss iilfslee i lk dQi a Hhe l QS e cribed, ahae mbe ade i eedi qbe hseasiedaoi itaapii a. m and located inside a tank,a cylinder member in 1a. end inte r l armed, L n aid-i a e-wither ng! a borede aed e i m-T eati n it id, pipe, sleere, .slidabflie atblle ilfi i freewe.ef-said i iili i e u nd n a nes n gcle ed eisl l d r iisbw, r le-1 el a eei haire' nd pfse e rliesi e eseidsle aeism ved iapnadir etiqa a plurality of ports extending through the side of eiili leerwt a. Peietssli etlrvbel w tsi .1

closed end, an arm integrally formed on said base portion extending'beyond said cylinder a bar pivoted to said arm and having one of its end capable of engaging the said closed end at times, said engaging end of said bar being rounded, a float secured to the opposite end of said bar and ribs formed on said arm for strengthening the same.

l. In a device of the class described, a base member designed to be threaded onto a pipe and located inside a tank, a cylinder member having one end integrally formed on said base and having a bore designed to be in communication with said pipe, a sleeve slidably mounted on the free end of said cylinder and having one end closed; said closed end having its outer side rounded and capable of closing the free end of said cylinder when said sleeve is moved in one direction, a plurality of ports extending through the side of said sleeve at a point below said closed end, an arm integrally formed on said base portion extending beyond said rounded closed end, a bar pivoted to said arm having one of its ends capable of engaging the said rounded closed end of said sleeve at times; said engaging end of said bar being rounded, and a float secured to the opposite end of said bar.

5. In a device of the class described, a base member designed to be threaded onto the end of a pipe, a cylinder having one end integrally formed on said base member and having a bore communicating with said pipe, a sleeve slidably mounted on the free end of said cylinder and having one end closed, said closed end capable of engaging the free end of said cylinder when said sleeve is moved in one direction, an outlet port in the side of said sleeve and located at a pointslightly below said closed end, and a float actuated bar capable of engaging said closed end of the sleeve.

6. In a device of the class described, a base member designed to be threaded onto the end of a pipe, a cylinder having one end integrally formed on said base member and having a bore communicating with said pipe, a sleeve slidably mounted on the free end of said cylinder and having one end closed, said closed end capable of engaging the free end of said cylinder when said sleeve is moved in one direction, two outlet ports diametrically opposite from each other in the side of said cylinder and located at-points slightly below said closed end, and a float actuated bar capable of engaging said closed end of the sleeve.

CLARENCE F. PEITZMAN. 

